Workmanship Warranty Template for Contractors

A workmanship warranty template, in short, promises to fix defects in your installation or repair at no charge for a term you set, from the completion date, and lists exclusions and how to claim. A warranty on labor alone falls outside the Magnuson-Moss Act; one that also covers parts you supply must be labeled full or limited.

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Every shop says “we stand behind our work.” A written workmanship warranty says for how long, for what, and what the customer has to do. That turns a callback argument into a checklist. This guide gives you wording to copy, term choices by trade, the exclusions that matter, and a plain explanation of the federal warranty rules. It's general information, not legal advice; state law adds its own implied warranties, so have a local attorney review your final text.

Key takeaways

• Workmanship covers your labor and installation; the manufacturer's warranty covers the product.
• Labor-only warranties aren't covered by the Magnuson-Moss Act, per the FTC's own interpretation.
• Cover parts too, and federal rules apply: label it “full” or “limited” and put the required disclosures in one document.
• Call it “limited” unless you meet the full-warranty standards: no limit on implied warranties, free repair, and refund or replacement after repeated failures.
• Start the clock on the completion date and write it on the invoice.
• Spell out the claim process: who to call, how fast you respond, and what you'll do.

What is a workmanship warranty?

A workmanship warranty is your promise that the way you installed or repaired something is free of defects for a set period, and that you'll fix it at no charge if it isn't. It sits next to the manufacturer's warranty, which covers the equipment or materials.

Some manufacturers add workmanship coverage when a certified installer does the work. Owens Corning's Platinum Protection roofing warranty (August 2026 edition) applies only to roofs installed by its Platinum Preferred Contractors, covers application errors for the first 25 years of its workmanship period on a single-family detached home, and makes the installing contractor responsible for repairing application errors found in the first two years. Even then, the first call comes to you.

Workmanship warranty template (copy and adapt)

Replace the bracketed text. Attach it to the contract or invoice, and give the customer a copy.

[Business name] Limited Workmanship Warranty

Who is covered. This warranty is given to [the customer named on the invoice] for work at [service address]. [It transfers to a new owner of the property for its remaining term / It does not transfer.]

What is covered. We warrant that the labor we performed under invoice #[__], dated [completion date], is free from defects in workmanship for [term] from that date. A defect in workmanship means a failure caused by how we installed or repaired the work, such as a leak at a joint we made or a connection we made coming loose.

What we will do. If a covered defect appears during the term, we will inspect and repair it at no charge for labor [or parts we supplied]. If repair isn't practical, we will redo the affected work.

What is not covered. Equipment and materials, which carry their manufacturers' warranties; damage from misuse, accidents, weather events, power surges, freezing, pests or lack of maintenance; work changed or repaired by anyone else; pre-existing conditions we noted in writing; and [cosmetic items, drywall, paint].

Conditions. The invoice must be paid in full. [Systems must receive maintenance as recommended in the manufacturer's instructions.] Report a problem within [30] days of noticing it and allow us access to inspect.

How to make a claim. Call [phone] or email [address] with your name, address and invoice number. We will respond within [two business days] and schedule an inspection.

Manufacturer warranties. We will register equipment where the manufacturer requires it and help you file manufacturer claims. Labor for manufacturer claims after our term is billed at our normal rates.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

The last sentence is the wording federal rules require when a written warranty covers a consumer product, and it does no harm on a labor-only warranty.

How long should a workmanship warranty be?

Long enough that an installation mistake would show up within it, and short enough that you can stand behind it. There's no legal minimum for a labor warranty in most cases. The terms below are examples to choose from, not industry figures:

A longer term can be a good option in a good, better, best quote: one year on the good option, two on better, five on best. Price the extra callbacks into the higher options.

Does the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act apply to workmanship warranties?

Not to labor alone. The FTC's interpretation of the Act says warranties on services aren't covered, so a warranty that applies solely to a repairer's workmanship isn't subject to it. But where one written warranty covers both the parts you supply and your workmanship, it must comply. And the parts you install are often consumer products: the FTC lists air conditioners, furnaces and water heaters, and roofing and siding bought under a home improvement contract. Wiring, plumbing and ducts built into the house are not.

If your warranty covers a consumer product costing more than $10, the Act requires you to:

• Label it “full (duration) warranty”, such as “Full one-year warranty”, only if it meets the federal minimum standards; otherwise “limited warranty”.
• Meet the full-warranty standards if you use the word: fix the defect within a reasonable time at no charge, put no limit on how long implied warranties last, and offer a refund or replacement if repeated repairs fail.
• Disclose the terms in one document (products over $15): who is covered, what is covered and excluded, what you'll do, when the term starts and how long it lasts, step-by-step claim instructions with your name and address or phone, and the state-rights sentence.
• Keep implied warranties. If you give a written warranty, you can't disclaim implied warranties; you may limit their length to your warranty's term if you say so clearly on its face, with the set sentence that some states don't allow it.

That's why the template is titled “Limited.” If you'd rather not deal with the rules at all, warrant only your labor and point to the manufacturer's warranty for the parts, as the template does.

How should a warranty claim work?

1. Log the call against the original job and invoice, with the customer's description and photos if they have them.
2. Book the inspection fast. A leak or no-heat claim gets same-day or next-day priority.
3. Decide on site: workmanship, product failure, or outside cause. Photograph what you find.
4. Fix covered defects at no charge and record the cause, so repeat problems point to a training issue.
5. For anything not covered, explain why in writing, with the exclusion it falls under, and quote the repair.

Track these visits as callbacks; our guide on reducing callbacks shows how to log causes and cut them. When a claim turns into an argument, our guide on handling customer complaints has scripts for the call.

Which mistakes make warranties backfire?

• “Lifetime warranty” with no definition of whose lifetime or what's covered.
• Calling it a “full” warranty while limiting implied warranties or charging for repairs.
• No start date on the paperwork, so the term is whatever the customer remembers.
• Not registering equipment, leaving the customer with a shorter manufacturer warranty.

Put the warranty term in your contract too; the roofing contract template shows where it goes.

Where CrewRobin fits

CrewRobin keeps the record a warranty claim depends on. Each customer record holds every call, text, job, quote and invoice, so the completion date and the work done are on file when the customer calls back. Technicians add photos and notes to each job in My day and tick off each job's checklist with a photo per step, which helps when you need to show how the work was done. See how it works for HVAC companies and roofers.

Frequently asked questions

What is a workmanship warranty?

A contractor's promise that its installation or repair is free from defects for a set period, and that it will fix covered defects at no charge. The manufacturer's warranty covers the product itself.

How long is a typical workmanship warranty?

There's no standard term; you choose. One year on repairs, with longer terms on installs and roofs, is a simple place to start. Manufacturer-backed roofing system warranties can run longer: Owens Corning's Platinum Protection covers workmanship for 25 years on single-family homes when installed by its certified contractors.

Does the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act apply to contractors?

Not to a warranty on labor alone; the FTC says warranties on services aren't covered. If your written warranty also covers parts you supply, such as an air conditioner or water heater, it must be labeled full or limited and meet the disclosure rules.

What is the difference between a full and a limited warranty?

A full warranty must fix defects within a reasonable time at no charge, can't limit implied warranties, and must offer a refund or replacement after repeated failed repairs. Any written warranty on a consumer product over $10 that doesn't meet those standards must be called limited.

Can a workmanship warranty require payment in full?

It can, if the condition is written into the warranty the customer receives, not added later. Check your state's rules with a local attorney.

Put it to work this week

Keep every job's photos, notes and invoice on the customer record, so warranty calls take minutes, not a file search. CrewRobin is free until your first 10 booked jobs, no card up front. Start free or see pricing.

Sources

Figures from outside CrewRobin were checked against these pages in October 2026. Most industry benchmarks come from vendors and agencies, so treat them as ranges, not rules.

• 16 CFR 700.1, Magnuson-Moss products covered (Cornell LII)
• 15 U.S.C. 2303, full vs limited designation (Cornell LII)
• 15 U.S.C. 2304, federal minimum standards for full warranties (Cornell LII)
• 15 U.S.C. 2308, implied warranties (Cornell LII)
• 16 CFR 701.3, what a written warranty must disclose (Cornell LII)
• Owens Corning Platinum Protection warranty (August 2026, PDF)